Still a Grumpy Starter

[nine-fiver]

Well, lots 'o cash has been spent trying to get 'the Vortex' to start properly first thing in the morning. DI, plugs, CPS, filters, regulators, multiple fuel pumps and pickups, vac lines, TB and MAF cleans, downpipe O rings, etc etc. and etc.
The thing will start, eventually. Well, it should actually, after a rebuilt alternator, starter and new battery. First on a few cylinders then three, then four. Most mornings.
Hot restarts are perfect, until it won't.
All sorts of expletives are uttered by those who turn the key most mornings. Not a great example to the girls in the back seat. They cross everything to get it to go. A Cheer goes up when it catches...
The thing that concerns me is that no-one can tell me what the problem actually is. And it is slowly driving me crazy. She is making serious noises about ditching the Vortex, and getting a new car from a non-Swedish manufacturer with previous generation VW underpinnings.
Aaargh! (Again)

[collywobble]

Just be grateful she doesn't want a car from a country where dog is a delicacy!

[nine-fiver]

Trying very hard to avoid that option. As good as they have become in recent years, it is the visual design that grates. But the Skoda Superb wagon is a seriously decent option as a new car option, and when you look closely, appears to be the direct replacement for the OG 9-5 wagon as we know it. Such a pity the NG wagon never hit the road.
Anyway...the weird thing is that the old wagon is running really well, with only the odd poor start. We just accept it now. One cylinder, then two, stalls, catches on restart and then everything is good. Smooth, lots of power, good economy. But can't justify any money spent on the car anymore.
Not my choice, but She is the boss.

[mikeloadsasaabs]

There's at least one new generation 9-5 estate on the road:

http://jalopnik.com/how-i-made-this-saab-9-5-sportcombi-prototype-road-lega-1471197722

[nine-fiver]

And doesn't it look truly excellent. But in my life time I will never see one at 37deg South.

[nine-fiver]

Her's is doing weird things now. Very poor starting and is now crazy off the lights. Almost too much power, with only a slight amount of throttle. No idea what is going on now. Running out of patience and money.

[Audax]

Head gasket failure?

[nine-fiver]

I'm hoping not. Really hoping not. What are the Saaby-Symptoms?

[Audax]

I'm hoping not. Really hoping not. What are the Saaby-Symptoms?

What does the coolant level do? If you're getting coolant into the cylinders it will be harder to start but a small bit of water injection in the cylinders will also help combustion giving it more power.

At least, shortly before my 9000 had a head gasket failure it got harder to start and then one day it just wouldn't start for a bit but when it started it was running *very* well until it dropped to 3 cylinders which I thought was a DI or injector failure and then it went on 2 cylinders and stopped. I don't think it used much coolant before this either but it was some years ago.

[nine-fiver]

Coolant is dropping a bit over time. But I've been putting this down to a weeping radiator tank. But i'm kidding myself i expect. It has buckets of power when it is warm. Almost psycho sometimes. So, yes, it is looking like the HG.
Maybe I have exaggerated the timeline a bit too. I got it into my head that the head needed a re torque. Might not have been the best idea in hindsight. Did it according the the WIS method. Nothing was loose, but once you are at that point I kept on with it. Maybe I have just brought things forward a bit by doing that.
Sat in a Superb wagon yesterday, 'just to try'....lots of '9-5 thinking in that car. Lots.
Might go up the road and get the testing kit thingy...